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Daphne sat down in an armchair in Elizabeth Higgins’ living room, their book of the week still in her bag. The first half an hour was, unofficially, reserved for gossip and, usually, there was one topic in particular that they would gossip about. All of the other women were there already, three of them sitting on the couch and the rest either in armchairs like Daphne or dining chairs that Elizabeth must have brought in from the dining room.
“Who was in charge of picking up our books for next week?” Renee Van Allen asked bossily, speaking over the other women, who all fell silent.
Daphne shyly raised her hand.
“Was it Castiel at the counter?” April Kelly asked, leaning forward with a predatory look on her face. “Or was it just Sam?”
“It was Castiel,” Daphne said, trying to ignore the blush she could feel rising in her cheeks at the thought of the cute book store owner.
“He is so sweet, right?” Nora gushed.
“And kind of sexy, in a dorky, bookish sort of way,” April added.
“I suppose,” Daphne stammered.
“Did the cat get you?” Amanda Burns asked, curling a strand of her brown hair around a finger.
Daphne nodded, remembering how the wretched creature had bitten her ankle when she had entered the store.
“That thing is vicious!” Renee complained.
“Yes, someone should put it down,” Elizabeth agreed.
“I once tried to kick it when Castiel and Sam were in the back,” April told them. “But the stupid thing is really fast.”
“You’d think that Castiel would keep a tighter leash on that thing,” Amanda said with a shudder. “You know, I normally get along so well with cats, but that one…”
“And the way it glares at you is just chilling. I swear, that thing would probably kill someone if it had the chance. Castiel is usually so down to earth, you’d think he would see how nasty the cat is,” Renee said.
“It’s probably attacked him as well,” Amanda added. “It can’t just be us that it bites.”
“Maybe,” Daphne suggested nervously, biting her lip as she tested the soundness of her idea. “One of us could talk to Castiel about it? I mean, I think, at this point, we’re kind of friends with him…”
“If I had my way,” April muttered petulantly. “I’d be more than friends with him.”
“But, surely,” Daphne said, raising her voice slightly. “If we all asked, then Castiel would get rid of the cat.”
“I’m not sure about that,” Nora said with a frown. “Have you seen him with it? He loves that thing.”
“Yes, but we’re valued customers,” Renee purred with a smirk.
“Surely, if we told him that the horrible beast makes us uncomfortable-” Elizabeth started.
“And keeps physically injuring us,” Renee added.
“Then he’d get rid of it. I mean, he likes us all, doesn’t he?” Elizabeth finished, looking around at the other women.
“Some more than others, I’m sure,” April said, smoothing out her shirt.
“Well, er.” Daphne hesitated before continuing, still nervous about her idea. “I was going to go in tomorrow to look for a new book to read, maybe I could mention that the cat keeps hurting me and maybe Castiel should keep it at home-”
“Or put it down,” April said.
“That might be a good idea,” Elizabeth said to Daphne, ignoring April’s comment. “Maybe, we should meet for lunch tomorrow, and you can tell us how receptive he was to the idea.”
“I don’t mind hosting lunch at my place,” Nora volunteered.
“So, it’s settled. Unless anyone is busy?” Elizabeth looked around at the other women, who all nodded. “Then we’ll meet tomorrow for lunch at Nora’s house, and Daphne can tell us how Castiel reacted to the suggestion that he should get rid of the cat?”
Once everyone had agreed, Elizabeth suggested they start the meeting, and they all pulled their books out of their bags.
-
Daphne was last to lunch the next day. All of the other women looked up expectantly, falling silent as they waited. Daphne collapsed into a chair beside Renee.
“You know how Castiel is married?” she started.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said. “But his wife is never at the bookstore.”
“Husband,” Daphne corrected, bitterness seeping into her tone. “He turned up today to give Castiel his lunch while I was there.”
“Husband?” April repeated, her mouth falling open in shock. “He’s gay?”
“He doesn’t seem gay,” Renee said, frowning. “Are you sure?”
“The guy introduced himself to me as Castiel’s husband and they kissed,” Daphne told the assembled women. “Yes, I’m sure.”
The book club all sat back in their seats, processing the new information.
“Was he cute?” Nora asked. “His husband.”
“Not cute so much as…” Daphne blushed at the thought. “Hot. I don’t know, he didn’t seem like Castiel’s type.”
“Yes, I always imagined…” Renee paused. “Well, first, an actual woman , second… I don’t know.”
“What exactly did he look like?” Nora pressed.
“Um…” Daphne tried to conjure up an image of the man. “He was about the same height as Castiel. Blonde hair, I think his eyes were green…”
“You should’ve gotten a picture,” April said.
“Did you get the guy’s name?” Elizabeth asked.
“Er… Dean, I think.”
“Dean?” Amanda said with a frown. “Isn’t that the cat’s name?”
“Yes, that’s what Castiel always calls it,” Renee said. “That’s kind of strange.”
“How did the cat react to Dean?” April asked, leaning forward towards Daphne. “Did he get attacked?”
Daphne’s brow creased as she thought back. She shook her head.
“No, it wasn’t there. Castiel said that it wanders.”
“That’s weird as well,” Amanda said.
None of the women noticed as they continued speculating about Castiel and his mysterious husband, the cat crouching at the kitchen window, watching them through vivid green eyes.
The cat made a sound that might have been a huff of laughter before he jumped down to the ground, landing lightly on his feet. He walked briskly, his tail curling through the air, in the direction of the row of shops not far from the house.
By the time he got back, it was getting dark. A man in a tan trenchcoat was locking the door. He seemed to sense the cat’s presence, and turned, his blue eyes still bright, despite the fading light. The cat rubbed up against the man’s legs, purring. The man’s lips quirked up into a gentle smile. He finished locking the store and put the keys in his pocket before crouching down next to the cat, running a hand through his thick fur.
“Hello, Dean,” the man murmured.
The cat leaned up, pressing his face against the man’s. The man smiled again before scooping the cat up into his arms. The cat closed his eyes and nuzzled against the man as he walked down the road.
Once they had made it to an apartment, the man placed the cat on the ground. He turned, pulling his trenchcoat off and throwing it onto a chair. When he turned back, the cat had been replaced by another man with blonde hair and green eyes.
“So, all of that book club is insanely jealous of me now,” Dean said with a smirk as he pulled Castiel in for a kiss.
“Sam and I have agreed that you are incredibly childish,” Castiel said, dodging Dean as he went in for a second kiss.
“ Sam and I have agreed that you are incredibly childish ,” Dean repeated back in a mocking, sing-song voice.
Castiel rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged at his lips.
“I love you,” Dean said, his playful grin becoming soft and genuine.
“I love you too,” Castiel replied, allowing Dean to embrace him. “Even if you sometimes act like a child.”
“And I love you despite your hurtful assessment of my character,” Dean said as he pressed a kiss to his witch’s forehead.